Author: Rick Herrick

Big Bear Lake, CA 9/8/15 – Brent Tregaskis long time Summit employee and current Vice President/General Manager announced that he is taking a position as General Manager at Colorado resort Eldora near the town of Boulder Colorado. Brent went to to describe this a great opportunity for him and his wife Bonnie to be close to family living in Colorado. Besides, he explains, as an avid powder skier that region is famous for deep fresh snow. Brent has spent the last 17 years as general manager of Bear Mountain Resort under the ownership of Booth Creek then Snow Summit. “Big Bear has been home for thirty years, and leaving it is not an easy decision. I truly loved working with Dick Kun and the company he built. I have been the General Manager of Bear Mountain longer than any previous GMs, 17 years, which has brought a stability to the operation and allowed it to excel. The team there is exceptional,” said Tregaskis. “I have also really appreciated the opportunity to work with Mammoth since they purchased Big Bear Mountain Resorts. It has been exciting, and I believe that many of the creative changes being implemented now and planned for the future will bring significant improvements to the profitability of the operation and enhance the growth of Big Bear.” “After much consideration, however, I have decided it is time...

Big Bear Lake, CA September 8, 2015 – A fatal watercraft incident on labor Day was reported shortly after 4:30 pm on Monday September 7th. The Big Bear Sheriff’s Station and officers of the Municipal Water District Lake Patrol responded to the distress call at Papoose Bay on Big Bear Lake. Witnesses described what they thought was a life jacket floating in the water but it turned out to be an unresponsive male and a personal water craft was floating nearby. The boaters flagged down the Big Bear Pirate Tour Ship for help. Lake Patrol and Big Bear Sheriff’s deputies responded and once there he was lifted onto the Lake Patrol boat where CPR was started immediately. He was transported to the West Boat Ramp where paramedics were waiting. Despite their best efforts the victim was pronounced deceased on scene. The watercraft did not appear to be damaged and the 30 year old victim was wearing his life jacket with no obvious signs of trauma reported. The cause of death will be determined by the county coroner. The Boating Accident Investigation Team of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department is investigating this...

Big Bear Lake, CA August 26, 2015 – Big Bear is one step closer to getting a new zoo. Supervisor James Ramos announced at Monday’s Big Bear Lake City Council meeting that a ground breaking ceremony will take place as early as December of this year. The building plans and specifications are nearly complete which include a peer review. Next the construction bidding window opens from October 6 to November 13, 2015. Soon after the winning contractor will be announced and a contract signed. Winter weather may be at play this year, for the launch of the grading and construction at the new location on the corner of Moonridge Road and Club View in Big Bear Lake. Supervisor Ramos expressed his enthusiasm for this project saying “Big Bear is one of the jewels of our County and the Alpine Zoo along with the Moonridge corridor revitalization plans will create a special place for residents and visitors of Big Bear along with escalating the zoo’s educational and rehabilitation mission.” The Zoo property acquisition and construction carries projected cost in the neighborhood of eight million dollars which is being financed by the county along with local zoo support groups. The Big Bear Lake City Council along with city planning commissioners expressed their appreciation and gratitude for this important community...

Big Cear, CA, 8/28/15 UPDATE – Due to more accurate mapping, the acreage burned has been decreased to 55 acres and is now 75% contained. Big Bear, Ca, 8/26/15, 10:00am UPDATE – Fire personnel have increased the containment of the Summit Fire to 50% today with the size of the fire remaining at 100 acres. Big Bear, Ca, 8/25/15, 1:10pm UPDATE– Today, fire crews and sawyers, timber cleaning personnel, are working to mitigate the standing dead and burned trees within the Summit Fire area and improve and extend the containment lines around the fire. Due to better mapping and with the emphasis on firefighter safety, the containment percentage has been revised to 30%. The size of the fire area remains at approximately 100 acres. The cause of the fire is under investigation. All evacuations were lifted yesterday. The Bear Valley Unified School District closed all Big Bear school sites today due to poor air quality, however, school will resume tomorrow. Several Forest Roads in the vicinity of the fire remain closed today. Big Bear Lake, Ca 8/24/15, 3:30pm UPDATE: – As of 2pm this afternoon, residents in the mandatory evacuation areas were allowed to return to their residences showing proof of address. As of 4pm, all residential areas will reopen with no restrictions. Forest service roads, trails and group camps in the fire zone will remain closed. The fire remains at 100 acres and 50%...

Big Bear Lake, Ca 6:00 am – School cancelled for Monday August 24th. The Bear Valley Unified School District has determined that because of evacuation orders that include areas near their schools and citing student and staff safety, schools in the Big Bear Valley will be closed today. The Fallsvale school site will remain in session today. Additionally, school facilities may need to be utilized by fire personnel. The District Office on Moonridge Road will be...